vilify

verb

vil·i·fy ˈvi-lə-ˌfī

vilified; vilifying

Synonyms of vilify next

transitive verb

: to utter slanderous and abusive statements against : defame

: to lower in estimation or importance

vilifier

ˈvi-lə-ˌfī(-ə)r

noun

Did you know?

It seems reasonable to assume that the words vilify and villain come from the same source; after all, to vilify someone is—in some ways—to make them out to be a villain. Such is not the case, however. Although the origin stories of both vilify and villain involve Latin, their roots are quite different. Vilify came to English (via Middle English and Late Latin) from the Latin adjective vilis, meaning “cheap” or “vile.” Someone who has been vilified, accordingly, has had their reputation tarnished or cheapened in such a way that they’re viewed as morally reprehensible. Villain on the other hand, comes from the Medieval Latin word villanus, meaning “villager,” and ultimately from the Latin noun villa, meaning “house.” The Middle English descendent of villanus developed the meaning of “a person of uncouth mind and manners” due to the vilifying influence of the aristocracy of the time, and the connotations worsened from there until villain came to refer to (among other things), a deliberate scoundrel.

Choose the Right Synonym for vilify

malign, traduce, asperse, vilify, calumniate, defame, slander mean to injure by speaking ill of.

malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

the most maligned monarch in British history

traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

both candidates aspersed the other's motives

vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

no criminal was more vilified in the press

calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

falsely calumniated as a traitor

defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

sued them for defaming her reputation

slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

town gossips slandered their good name

Examples of vilify in a Sentence

He was vilified in the press for his comments. claimed that she had been vilified by the press because of her conservative views

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Just over 100 years later in 1592, Shakespeare vilified him as a hunchback, giving him the famous cry of despair about a horse as his last line. —

Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024 At the same time, California has vilified its oil industry for years. —

Robert Rapier, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 The lawyers and relatives of the brothers said they were vilified as murderers rather than being seen as victims of a brutal predator. —

Chelsea Bailey, Amanda Musa and Ray Sanchez, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024 In a live streamed conversation with Trump, Musk said solar energy could one day source most of earth’s energy but warned against vilifying the oil and gas industries. —

Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vilify

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vilifien, from Late Latin vilificare, from Latin vilis cheap, vile

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of vilify was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Vilify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vilify. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

vilify

verb

vil·i·fy ˈvil-ə-ˌfī

vilified; vilifying

: to speak of as wicked

vilification

ˌvil-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən

noun

vilifier

ˈvil-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r

noun

Last Updated: 27 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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vilify

verb

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Synonyms

Examples of vilify in a Sentence

Word History

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